break-in

[ breyk-in ]

/ ˈbreɪkˌɪn /

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See synonyms for break-in on Thesaurus.com

noun

an illegal entry into a home, car, office, etc.

break-in period.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of break-in

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase break in

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use break-in in a sentence

This is the Mexico that U.S. college students would be wise to steer clear of on spring break.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is a guy who has his son-in-law clean his eyeglasses, for crying out loud.
Will Chris Christie Regret His Cowboy Hug?|Matt Lewis|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Her travel clique has been known to arrive at an airport, bags packed, passport-in-hand, within hours of spotting a deal.
‘We Out Here’: Inside the New Black Travel Movement|Charlise Ferguson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I was already over forty, had hardly a nickel in my pocket and this was the biggest break in my life.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Earl Spencer adds, “Effectively, my great-grandfather sold his children to his father-in-law.”
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain|Tim Teeman|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Were you ever arrested, having in your custody another man's cash, and would rather go to gaol, than break it?
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
If old Piegan Smith hadn't been sampling the contents of that keg so industriously he would never have made a break.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
General Houston had attacked them with three hundred of our people, but had not been able to break their ranks.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Such throats are trying, are they not?In case one catches cold; Ah, yes!
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
For good or ill, the torrent of rebellion was suffered to break loose, and it soon engulfed a continent.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for break-in

break in

verb (adverb)

(sometimes foll by on) to interrupt

(intr) to enter a house, etc, illegally, esp by force

(tr) to accustom (a person or animal) to normal duties or practice

(tr) to use or wear (shoes, new equipment, etc) until comfortable or running smoothly

(tr) Australian and NZ to bring (new land) under cultivation

noun break-in

the illegal entering of a building, esp by thieves
(as modifier)the break-in plans

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with break-in

break in

Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door. [Mid-1500s] Also see break into.

Also, break in on. Interrupt or disturb something unexpectedly, as in His assistant broke in with the bad news just as we were ready to sign the agreement, or He broke in on our private talks. [Mid-1600s]

Train or instruct someone in a new job or enterprise, as in Every semester she had to break in a new teaching assistant. [Late 1700s]

Loosen or soften with use, as in It takes a while to break in a pair of new shoes.